A Filipino boy, age 16 1

INFORMATION

Name: Bato ( Brave and Robust as Stone )
Age: 16
Gender: Male
Occupation: Student
Appearance: Tall, Short Hair, Skinny
Location: Philippine
Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits: Brave, Smart (Went to University at 16)
Family: Mom (Cabatu) , Dad (Cacal) , Younger Sister (Bulalayo)
Education: University of Santo Tomas (Majoring Economy)
Languages you speak: English, Spanish, Arabic
Your main concerns at this time and in life:learn more about the world.
Portrait:

Bato

DIARY


Diary 1
April 30, 1937

I am sixteen; however, I am attending college now. I have one younger sister, Bulalayo. She is eleven years old, but due to my tuition she is helping mom in our store. Most of my colleagues dropped out of our college and became a gangster. One of my best friends, Jamel Jaguar, also became a gangster. The weather today was very sunny. Perhaps, the weather is probably cheering for the women’s victory on their suffrage. However, my mom does not care. She is not interested in rights or votes. She just silently works on our store and our home. Most women are enjoying the day. However, for my mom it seems like the day is no different from other days. I think she should have more pride and should be happy for earning more rights. In college I am majoring Economy, but I am also learning English by myself. Learning English is quite fun. Now I can even right (write) a diary. Lately I heard the news that the massive chunk of land above Philippine is getting invaded. I hope this does not affect our country. It seems like the island next to this massive land is getting powerful and they are trying to expand their empire. I believe this island is called Japan and the massive land is China. I remember reading about these two countries in the document. In Philippines if I mention China or Japan, no one understands. Most people here are not educated, therefore, only few people knows Japan or China. Most people do not know how powerful these countries are, and Filipinos doesn’t really consider them as dangerous. However I believe they will someday be a threat to our country. I should start gathering more information about this Japanese expansion of their empire. Our country should be alerted for any foreign attacks. I can never be satisfied in Philippines. I would like to travel the world and learn more about foreign relations and information about these large and powerful countries, in order to protect our country. Now I don’t really know the world and the events that are going on. However, I believe I could bring back some valuable information if I could travel. I just need a sponsor who could support me financially. Our family is too poor in order to support my journey. I would like to learn more about Roosevelt, the president of United States and United States as well. I hope someone could really support my education.


Diary 2
September 1, 1939

The World War II started. My research tells me the Russo-Finnish War began. The Germany invaded Poland and occupied Bohemia and Moravia. My parents temporarily moved to Russia. No one told me any information, but my parents left a note that they will be back soon. They left me some money, but I had to drop out of college to take care of my sister. To achieve my dream I decided to leave Philippines with my sister. I wanted to learn about the World War II. Recently I’ve found out some information about the United States. Roosevelt has submitted about $1319 million defense budget. He declared the limited emergency and proclaimed that the United States is neutral. For me, United States is just a coward. Maybe I am too young to decide whether the United States is a coward or not. However, I could definitely know how the U.S does not any deaths and loss due to this war. Though, I could predict that the United States will secretly aid some countries to exploit this war to reinforce their country. Today, I met the leader of the Piranha gang. Surprisingly, Jamel Jaguar, my friend was the leader. He offered me to join his gang. However I refused. I had my own dream to explore the world. Being a gangster also seems to immoral .My English approved a lot in these two years. I now make no mistakes with spelling. Now I just have to work on my speaking and listening in order to move to United States. Today my sister was also sick. Her illness seems to foreshadow some event on Philippine. Whenever my sister was sick, something bad happened to our country. I stayed next to my sister, holding her hand. However, just before one hour she died of a mysterious disease. I feel sorrow and depressed. It seems like all my effort to learn about other countries and their relation is all futile. I wonder where my parents are. I have to tell them Bulalayo died. Now I am reconsidering Jaguar’s request, for joining his gang. Nothing can remedy my depression and sorrow. Writing this diary also depresses me. It again reminds me of my sister’s death. I now learned the importance of family. It is raining now. It seems like god is lamenting my sister death and all the deaths that occurred today. If god existed I wish he could bring back my sister.


Diary 3
January 5, 1942

The Japanese had swiped the American troops. Bombs dropped everywhere. I decided to Join Jaguar’s Gang. In return, I received some food. My parents were still missing and I have no idea whether they are alive or not. Life as a gangster was not as bad as I thought. However, most of the members were died because the buildings were all crushed. Japan attacked the Pearl Harbor. The United States and Great Britain immediately declared war. Right now, the world is in chaos. I had no chance to leave Philippines. The bombing continued for days. People were screaming for help. Bodies were cut into pieces and blood was everywhere. Some people were incinerated. The incinerated bodies look normal; however, when they are dragged, its skin is separated from the bones and from muscles. The American troops saved few survivors. As a survivor I also helped the American troop carry the survivors to the truck. As I finding a safe place, my gangs were gone. Jaguar and the rest of the gangs were separated from me. My dreams faded like illusions. Now, my dream is to just survive from this bombing. From the conversation between the American troops, I heard the America legally supported Great Britain by the Lend-Lease Act. I guess the American troop thought I couldn’t understand English. I think this Lend-Lease shipment would further bring chaos. Unites States, as a neutral country, should not interfere with any of the countries involved in the war. I believe this kind of help on one side would also damage the United States. During night, the bombing stopped temporarily. However, we still evacuated until we reach a safe place. We almost ran out of food and had to wait for the supplies. Chocolate or other canned food was only given once and sometimes we had to starve. One of the few survivors died due to hunger. It seems like there is no end to this bloody war. I wish we could bring back our independence and peace. The war not only killed most of the population, but also my dream.


Diary 4
December 27, 1945

The World War II ended. The United States triumphed the Japanese Imperial Army. Philippines gained independence. Houses and buildings were rebuilt. I had nowhere to go. I was left alone. I still have no idea where my parents are. My English improved as I talked with the American Troops. First they were surprised to know I can speak English. Now I work as a translator. Some troops became friends with me and I seemed like peace returned. The dead bodies were pretty much all buried. The World War II is probably one of the deadliest wars in the history, with most casualties. As the war ended, I was able to garner more information. After World War II, most countries government shifted to democracy, due to the United States’ influence. With my diaries and my information, I decided to write a book. Some American troop sponsored me and took me to America. Jaguar, the leader of the gang also my old friend, started to study and helped the reconstruction of the buildings. Back to my story in America, I researched about the atomic bomb, which was dropped at the end of the World War II. Two atomic bombs were dropped, one in Hiroshima and another in Nagasaki. It was the deadliest bomb. Franklin Delano Roosevelt died and Harry S. Truman became the new president. My book was published and became popular. I dedicated my book for my parents and my sister and wrote their name on the first page of the book. After a month, someone, with a very familiar writing sent me a letter. It was my mom. She told me my dad fought in the world and died. My mom read my book and saw the dedication. In the letter she told me she moved back to Philippines. She also asked me about Bulalayo, my sister. I decided to return to Philippines to meet my mom. When I arrived at Philippines I went to the place where my mom told me. Ironically, I arrived at a tomb, both my mother’s and father’s name was carved on the tombstone. The guard of the tomb told me, he sent me the letter. I found that the letter was my mom’s last will. She left me a will just before when she died and a minute later it started rain.